When a Patient Thanks a Doctor ... Oct 31 06:17am I've been cleaning my office this week, going through files that include cards and photos from patients as far back as 1988. I was really touched by the sentiments patients expressed in some of these cards. No one expects a thank-you card for... Read more

Is the Pill Really the Best Contraceptive? Oct 18 06:23pm While giving a lecture to our ob/gyn residents the other day about birth control, a light bulb went off. Although we discuss all the birth control options, most of my patients choose the Pill. In fact, I think of birth control pills as the gold... Read more

What Every Mom-to-Be with a Cat Should Know Oct 17 11:23am Have you heard that mothers-to-be are not supposed to change the kitty litter? This is because cats can carry toxoplasmosis, a parasite that can cross the placenta in humans and cause serious fetal complications. The mother typically doesn't... Read more

When Inducing Makes Sense Oct 12 04:34pm So my niece Zenia, who was so miserable at the end of her pregnancy, decided she was more afraid of Pitocin (a medicine to induce labor) than of remaining pregnant a few more days, and declined her doctor's offer of elective induction.   But by... Read more

To Induce or Not to Induce: That is the Question Oct 10 09:31am My niece Zenia hates being pregnant. She throws up for the first four months, and then she's swollen and sore and can't sleep at the end. She was so miserable at the end of her second pregnancy that she begged her OB to induce labor about... Read more

Contributions Welcome for the Working Woman's Pregnancy Book Sep 26 11:56am My current project, The Working Woman's Pregnancy Book (Yale University Press, March 2008) is in its final stages. The manuscript, tables, photos, and illustrations are completed, and the design team is working on putting it all together.... Read more

Why Does a Doctor Wear a White Coat? Sep 22 10:48am A lot of people commented on my blog about whether doctors should wear white coats . Opinions were mixed, from wanting doctors to look professional, to thinking the white coat is a sign of arrogance. Our medical school has a "white coat... Read more

Which Cold Remedies are Safe in Pregnancy? Sep 21 04:18pm It is getting to be that time of year again, a chill is in the air, leaves are turning, the kids are back in school, and everyone seems to have the sniffles. Many women feel a little congested during pregnancy anyway, but when a cold hits, it can be... Read more

Preventing Coughs, Colds, and Flu While Pregnant Sep 19 04:05pm It's almost flu season again, and with the kids back at school, germs seem to be flying. Although you might think colds are spread in the air from people sneezing and coughing, research has shown that most colds are passed through touch.... Read more

Birth Control: Choosing a Method Sep 14 10:38am I'm leading a session on birth control this week at the medical school where I teach. I decided to talk about how knowing your patient's needs, wants, and health risks can help you to prescribe the best method. The premise: Each method of... Read more